HC Chang Orthopaedic Surgery | Singapore

Cartilage defects of the knee joint can be repaired using cultured cartilage cells taken from the patient’s knee cartilage.

The indications, contraindications and biopsy of the cartilage were previously discussed. You can click on this link to read the article. Click Here.

In this article, I will explain how the cultured cartilage cells are implanted into the knee cartilage defect.

A small cut is made in the knee to allow access into the knee joint so as to expose the cartilage defect.

A small ring curette is used to debride the cartilage defect in order to expose the subchondral bone and to achieve a vertical stable cartilage rim.

Full Thickness Cartilage Defect of the Knee

Next, a sterile aluminium foil is used to template the size of the cartilage defect.

Using a scissors, the template is cut to the size of the defect.

This is next placed onto the MACI cartilage implant and the cartilage implant is cut according to the size of the aluminium foil template.

The MACI implant which has been cut to the size of the cartilage defect is then glued onto the defect using tissel glue.

The final product is as shown:

After Implantation of the Cartilage Cells | HC Chang

The wound is closed up and the knee is braced from 0 to 30 degrees.

The patient needs to follow a strict rehabilitation protocol.

For more information on cartilage repair and use of MACI technique for cartilage injuries, please contact us at +65-683 666 36 or email hcchang@ortho.com.sg

Do visit our website at http://www.ortho.com.sg